ZEYNEB ÎSA

Qamishlo- Since the revolution led by women in Rojava, life has been rebuilt by people from all ages participating in all facets of life, including art and culture, politics, economy and social life. In Rojava, where children's rights are respected, children have their own communes, associations and assemblies and have a say.

The Kurdish people living in North and East Syria could not speak their native language for years due to the ban of the Baathist regime. Since the revolution, Kurdish language has become the language of education and spoken in all public spaces, like Arabic. Today, the new generation makes a great effort to preserve their native language. 14-year-old Rona Egîd is one of members of the new generation preserving their native language. Rona both teaches Kurdish language and makes great effort for the development of Kurdish language. The library opened by her in Qamishlo is the first children’s library in Rojava.

In an interview with NuJINHA, she spoke about the “Rona” Children’s Library and her aims.

‘My aim is to promote reading culture’

“I am a seventh-grade student. There are English, Arabic and Kurdish books in Kurmanc and Sorani dialects. My aim is to promote reading culture in our society,” said Rona Egîd, who is supported by her family.

‘I want to open library in every city’

Rona Egîd also publishes a children’s magazine. Speaking about her magazine, she said, “I named the children’s magazine after myself. So far, I have published three issues of the magazine. I want to open a children’s library in every city of Rojava and have a publishing house in the future. Before there were about 1,000 books in my library but now the number of the books is only 300 because I cannot receive any support anymore. We need support to increase the number of books.”

‘If you have a purpose, you will succeed’

Rona Egîd dreams of writing a book. “I have not written a book yet but I want to improve myself to write a book. If you have a purpose, you will succeed. Now, my purpose is to write a book and open a children’s library in every city. I am ready to support everyone, who has a purpose, and teach Kurdish to everyone.”